NSW school to be demolished following severe mould outbreak

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A high school in the NSW far west will be demolished after it was closed in January because of a severe mould outbreak. Students have been attending classes at other locations.

Transcript

00:00 It's not how Williama High was expecting to mark its 50th anniversary.

00:07 A decision was made and has been accepted by the Deputy Premier, Minister for Education

00:13 that the school will be demolished and rebuilt.

00:16 A severe mould infestation was discovered at the school two months ago.

00:21 A hygienist has concluded the building would have to be stripped completely to be safe

00:25 again.

00:26 Even with all of the remediation that had been recommended, unless we were to resolve

00:31 everything entirely, the recurrence of mould growth is likely.

00:36 I mean it's definitely a less than ideal situation that we're in because of a breakout

00:40 of mould that no one expected to happen.

00:43 Disease causing pathogens, asbestos and lead paint were also found.

00:49 Williama students and teachers have been spread across three different schools since the start

00:53 of the year.

00:54 Soon, all of them will be based in temporary classrooms at Broken Hill High.

00:59 The education outcomes for the Broken Hill side is also greatly affected by having an

01:04 additional 600 odd students at that school.

01:08 It's going to be so much more frustrating getting around the new school where we could

01:16 have just went there in the first place.

01:18 It's not yet clear how long they'll be here.

01:20 By the time it gets rebuilt, I'll be old and mouldy just like the school.

01:25 There were initial concerns that Williama would be merged with Broken Hill High, but

01:30 the state government has assured staff and students that there will continue to be two

01:34 separate high schools.

01:36 And I really hope that today's announcement can put that to bed, can allay some of those

01:41 fears and that anxiety.

01:43 Consultation with staff and students will begin in coming weeks.

01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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